Exotic destinations are plentiful in Asia, and where you have a keen sense of history, and wish to observe a glimpse of the glorious and mystique eras of the past, nothing can be more exciting and informative than the notable ruins of the Ayutthaya kingdom of Thailand.
Thailand, the great land of smiles holds more than great food and sunshine, and perhaps this destination called Ayutthaya is the best kept secret about Thailand.
We are not talking about the beautiful beaches that normally describe Thailand, or the night spots of bawdy entertaintment that hogs the beach scene, not even the exotic meals where you can eat various insects and bugs including crickets, worms and roaches!
We are talking about the notable ruins of the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Thailand.
When I first heard of the Ayutthaya kingdom, this question just struck me: " Aren't these almost similar to the Angkor Wat of Kampuchea?"
Be prepared to be surprised!
Having visited the famous Angkor Wat, the Ayutthaya kingdom greatly surprises with its difference.
Set at the conjunction of the Lopburi, Pasak and Chao Phraya Rivers, the beautiful ancient city of Ayutthaya, was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong and was Thailand's capital for 417 years, of what was then known as Siam.
Over the next 417 years it was ruled by 33 kings of different dynasties and repelled 23 Burmese invasions, before the Burmese finally succeeded in razing it to the ground.
The most important place to visit is the BUDDHA HEAD at Wat Mahatat.
Just in case you do not know, against a backdrop of temples that stood the test of time and the ravages of the weather, the Buddha Head wat or temple has a most intriguing facet of nature intervowing with the partial statue of the Enlightened One - The Buddha.
Why is this place a must to visit?
Here you can see many headless buddha statutes and one particular shrine where a the famous Boddhis tree, with roots seeking to spread over a wall of slate, and mostly exposed yet firmly entrenched, as if telling us a story of peace and stability against a world of uncertainties, interwoving its roots to cover a statutue of the revered Buddha, seeking to leave uncovered the face of the Enlightened One.
What a spectacular sight!
The uncovered face of the Great Buddha radiates a feeling of tremendous peace and warmth, of tranquility and of purpose.
It is a sense of inner calmness that smoothens the unrest within the inner chambers of the heart, so that irregardless of your religion, you will instantly recognises the holiness of the moment, the reverence of the Buddha...and you will leave the place carrying the same sense of wonder and awe that will linger with you forever.
Now, as this is the best kept secret of visiting Thailand, how did I squeeze the most out of a tight budget in terms of money and time to see the most of the Ayutthaya Kingdom?
First, plan your tour. Get a map of the Ayutthaya kingdom and write down your destinations you would like to visit.
Secondly, the first priority is to visit Wat Mahatat - the Buddha Head. This will allow you more time to enjoy the sights and scenes of this great kingdom as you bask in the glorious ruins.
Thirdly,engage the services of your local cab driver. You can get a very decent package that you personally designed. Give him your destinations, and he will fix with you the entire package tour price.
And as a bonus, my local cab driver spoke only a smattering of English. So he took along his college-going daughter to provide the interpretation and who acted as an honorary guide. Be prepared to pay her entrance fee if you do get a guide, but then most sites do not require an interpreter to be along with you.
Now, if you ever think of visiting Thailand, just remember that apart from the beaches, the night live, the entertaintment scence, the good food and the shopping at Paragon Mall, there is a best kept secret, and that is the notable ruins of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. You must not miss this when you travel to Thailand.
YS Koh works hard and believes in making travel and sightseeing a priority in her quest to learn more of the world. With extensive experience in capturing special moments on her camera, she has established the website " Visit The Notable Ruins of The Ayutthaya Kingdom, Thailand" at http://www.ayutthaya.best-travelogue.info where you can see the Buddha Head, refer to maps and lesser known tourist information that will make your visit a truly memorable one.
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